Israel Reportedly to Close UK Consulate Without Expelling Diplomats

Israel plans to close its consulate in the United Kingdom but will not expel British diplomats, according to a newspaper report cited by TASS.

The move comes after London had earlier threatened to expel 30 Israeli diplomats from the UK in response to actions taken by Israel, the report said. Details about which Israeli consulate is set to close, when the closure would take effect, or the specific Israeli actions that prompted London's expulsion threat were not included in the available report.

The diplomatic tension reflects strains between Israel and the UK government that have surfaced periodically amid disagreements over Israeli policy, though the exact nature of the current dispute was not elaborated upon in the report. Neither the Israeli nor British government was reported to have issued an official statement confirming the specifics of the newspaper report.

It remains unclear whether the consulate closure is intended as a direct response to the UK's expulsion threat or a separate diplomatic decision. The report did not specify which newspaper first published the account or provide additional sourcing for the claims.

Relations between the two countries have faced periods of strain in recent years over issues related to Israeli government policy, and this reported development would mark the latest instance of friction between the two.